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New Flyer electric bus


dj.surf.lfs

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http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingn...-119536124.html

The provincial government will roll out a number of projects on electric vehicles over the next year, Manitoba’s Innovation, Energy and Mines Minister Dave Chomiak said today.

Some of the projects fall under a one-year memorandum of understanding the province signed in December with Tokyo-based Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to develop a prototype electric bus with New Flyer Industries. Mitsubishi is testing a bus in Japan.

Chomiak, speaking Saturday at this weekend’s annual NDP convention, said the deal encourages the development of new technologies for the full "electrification" of vehicles, and explores opportunities for cold-weather testing of products MHI has developed.

"Mitsubishi sought us out because they knew we were both environmentally friendly and energy endowed," Chomiak said.

He added its hoped the province can develop technology in energy-efficient vehicles rather than become a Detroit of the north to make electric cars and buses.

"We think with our capacity here with composites, our innovation and with our electricity we can be a significant player in the future of both power grid and the functioning of electric vehicles, in the short term not necessarily for domestic use, but certainly for national use and international use," he said.

He also said the long-term goal is to help in the development of a full-scale electric vehicle.

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Selinger calls electric transit bus the future of public transport

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Selinger-calls-electric-transit-bus-the-future-of-public-transport-156365075.html

It would be nice to see some stats on this thing... Anyone?

For example, I wonder how it would stack up against this Proterra Ecoliner featured on Jay Leno's Garage (video also inside):

http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/20/proterra-ecoliner-electric-bus-stops-by-jay-lenos-garage/

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Selinger calls electric transit bus the future of public transport

http://www.winnipegf...-156365075.html

It would be nice to see some stats on this thing... Anyone?

For example, I wonder how it would stack up against this Proterra Ecoliner featured on Jay Leno's Garage (video also inside):

http://green.autoblo...y-lenos-garage/

SR1321 is a XDE40 with a Cummins ISL9 and an Allison EP40 hybrid system. Got that from the Wiki. I wonder what kind of mods went on.

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SR1321 is a XDE40 with a Cummins ISL9 and an Allison EP40 hybrid system. Got that from the Wiki. I wonder what kind of mods went on.

Safe to say SR1321 no longer has the Cummins on board. Its all electric now, bye bye to the Allison as well.

As for the comparison with Proterra, both are using lithium ion batteries. Proterra's bus can be charged in 10 minutes with the right equipment. They are way ahead of New Flyer in implementation but I'd still rather be New Flyer and have a viable business in conventional buses first.

More on the Proterra bus is here:

http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/Story/2010/05/Altair-Proterra-sign-lithium-ion-battery-order.aspx

Can anyone share how the Proterra buses are performing for Foothill Transit?

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It's interesting to note that they are using SR-1321. I'm interested to find out what the demo schedule is for this unit. However, the price seems a tad steep, like most electric vehicles. I would be willing to guess one will be demoed at Vancouver, San Fransisco, Hamilton, Montreal, Quebec, etc.

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Safe to say SR1321 no longer has the Cummins on board. Its all electric now, bye bye to the Allison as well.

As for the comparison with Proterra, both are using lithium ion batteries. Proterra's bus can be charged in 10 minutes with the right equipment. They are way ahead of New Flyer in implementation but I'd still rather be New Flyer and have a viable business in conventional buses first.

More on the Proterra bus is here:

http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/Story/2010/05/Altair-Proterra-sign-lithium-ion-battery-order.aspx

Can anyone share how the Proterra buses are performing for Foothill Transit?

They are still very much a beta test. They are often worked on and modified.

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They are still very much a beta test. They are often worked on and modified.

I see. I noticed they said on the Jay Leno video that they were expecting a transmission switch. And the bus only had 7k miles but the original transmission was not set up for regenerative braking. Sure sounds like a work in progress as you say. I wish them success.

Thats a very informative video on the Proterra bus. Thanks for posting it! Its a great looking bus thats for sure.

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Here is a different New Flyer electric bus. Looks to me like Complete Coach Works used a New Flyer shell for this electric bus retrofit:

http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/Story/2012/06/Complete-Coach-debuts-zero-emission-propulsion-bus.aspx

"We are striving for a price point of of roughly $475,000 to $500,000 for The fully rehabbed bus with the ZEPS drive, half of what a new electric bus would cost," said Neshati.

The prototype vehicle is currently undergoing a month of testing.

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Chicago getting two of New Flyer's all electric buses:

http://www.transitch...&ArticleId=3045

$1.25 million each apparently!

Very interesting that New Flyer is already competing (and winning) on electric bus contracts! I hope the buses are ready to go and succeed in heavy duty upon delivery. Inevitably this kind of technology transition is not smooth and easy--although the ride of an electric bus is :)

Thank you for the link.

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"To date, New Flyer has built six XE40’s for North American customers, and expects five of them to enter service in the coming weeks. The sixth vehicle has commenced its FTA new bus model testing at the Altoona Bus Research and Testing Center in Altoona, Pa."

I believe thats 4 for Winnipeg Transit and two for Chicago CTA!

http://www.metro-magazine.com/news/story/2014/10/new-flyer-introduces-xcelsior-all-electric.aspx

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Back to Ballard fuel cells...

http://www.metro-magazine.com/news/story/2014/10/new-flyer-to-develop-60-foot-electric-xcelsior-model.aspx

New Flyer has partnered with Ballard Power Systems Inc. and Siemens on a bus that will be operated by Connecticut Transit (CTTransit) for 22 months of in-revenue-service operations.

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Back to Ballard fuel cells...

http://www.metro-magazine.com/news/story/2014/10/new-flyer-to-develop-60-foot-electric-xcelsior-model.aspx

New Flyer has partnered with Ballard Power Systems Inc. and Siemens on a bus that will be operated by Connecticut Transit (CTTransit) for 22 months of in-revenue-service operations.

Whats really interesting is that this fuel-cell electric bus will be Altoona tested and offered to customers. Are fuel cell buses finally ready?

One things for sure, they'll need access to affordable hydrogen fueling.

Source:

"The 60-foot articulated vehicle is to be tested in revenue service for 22 months by Connecticut Transit in league with Calstart and FTA, the Federal Transit Administration. “A key step in the commercialization will be to complete a full Altoona durability and performance test,” New Flyer says.

“Upon the success of this program, New Flyer will offer this vehicle to customers throughout the United States and Canada.”

http://www.fleetsandfuels.com/fuels/hydrogen/2014/10/new-flyers-electric-apta-expo/

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Yea... exactly. Hydrogen won't really result in any greenhouse gas reduction since most of the hydrogen available in North America is made from natural gas. The bottom line on hydrogen is that it is a net energy loser... you start with more energy in raw natural gas, and you end up with much less energy once it is converted to hydrogen for the fuel cell. It's not a feasible solution for our transportation needs until someone figures out nuclear fusion - with unlimited nuclear energy, we can waste massive amount of energy to separate hydrogen molecule from water to make automotive fuel. Short of that scientific miracle, hydrogen is just a waste of time. The only people really promoting it are the oil and gas industry... and its because it deepens our reliance on fossil fuel!

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Yea... exactly. Hydrogen won't really result in any greenhouse gas reduction since most of the hydrogen available in North America is made from natural gas. The bottom line on hydrogen is that it is a net energy loser... you start with more energy in raw natural gas, and you end up with much less energy once it is converted to hydrogen for the fuel cell. It's not a feasible solution for our transportation needs until someone figures out nuclear fusion - with unlimited nuclear energy, we can waste massive amount of energy to separate hydrogen molecule from water to make automotive fuel. Short of that scientific miracle, hydrogen is just a waste of time. The only people really promoting it are the oil and gas industry... and its because it deepens our reliance on fossil fuel!

Yep, sounds about as environmentally friendly as corn ethanol. (Yeah you're fueling your Fusion with some corn, technically a renewable resource in that more will grow, but by the time you factor in the petroleum used for pesticides and whatnot to plant/grow/harvest, and I assume some fuel or energy to process it into ethanol, you are probably better off from an environmental standpoint just using straight gas. Not to mention the weaker fuel economy from corn vs. regular gas.)

Instead of hydrogen fuel cells we may as well just throw money at creating a perpetual powered powertrain, or other out of the box ideas, (Flintstones bus anyone?) at least until you get nuclear fusion perfected as you mention.

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Chicago CTA is using its two XE40s this afternoon. The numbers are #700 (green color) and #701 (blue)

--

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-cta-electric-buses-20141029-story.html?track=rss

CTA officials said the buses are expected to run 80 to 120 miles between charges. A CTA bus operates an average of 100 miles per day, officials said.

CTA officials estimate it will save $25,000 a year in fuel costs per bus.

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